Provenance:Materials in this collection were generated and/or collected by Evelyn Gandy.

Copyright:
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright
Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Biographical/Historical
Sketch:

Edythe Evelyn Gandy was born and reared in Hattiesburg , Forrest County , Mississippi . She received her education at Hattiesburg High School , the University of Southern Mississippi , and the University of Mississippi School of Law. In 1947 she began the practice of law in Hattiesburg , and after her career in public service, she returned to private law practice in Hattiesburg in January 1984, with the firm of Ingram and Associates. Ms. Gandy died on December 23, 2007. She is interred in Roseland Park Cemetery in Hattiesburg.

In 1948, Ms. Gandy was elected to serve as Representative in the State Legislature from Forrest County . Later she served in the following statewide elective positions: State Treasurer (1960-1964, 1968-1972); Commissioner of Insurance (1972-1976); Lieutenant Governor (1976-1980). She was the first woman to hold each of these offices.

She served as Assistant Attorney General and Commissioner of Public Welfare, and was the first woman to serve in both of these appointive positions.

Ms. Gandy served on a number of policy-making state boards and commissions, including the Commission of Budgeting and Accounting, the State Insurance Commission, the Board of Economic Development, and the Public Employees Retirement Board. She served as a member of the National Advisory Council for the Salvation Army and the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy .

She was active in numerous professional and civic organizations and was a past State President of the Mississippi Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the South Central Mississippi Women Lawyers Association, and the Mississippi Official Women's Club. She was a fellow, the Mississippi Bar Foundation.

Ms. Gandy was a member of the University Baptist Church in Hattiesburg , where she served as a Deacon.

She received the Service of Humanity Award from Mississippi College in 1976; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law in 1977 from Blue Mountain College, Blue Mountain, Mississippi; Paul Harris Fellow-Rotary Club 1978; the Humanitarian Award in 1979 from the Mental Health Association; the Mississippi Woman of the Year Award in 1980 from Mississippi State University; Mississippian of the Year in Government in 1981; the Exchange Club "Golden Deeds" Award in 1982; Mississippi College School of Law Award for Excellence in Law in 1984; the Mississippi Women's Political Caucus Susan B. Anthony Award for Outstanding Service to the State of Mississippi in 1984; was selected for the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame in 1985; received the Mississippi University for Women Medal of Excellence in May 1991; Executive of the Year-Sales Marketing Executive, International 1991; Holder, Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law and Government, the University of Mississippi School of Law, Spring Semester 1994; Recipient Lifetime Achievement Award, The Mississippi Bar 1994; Recipient First Annual Award for Distinguished Service, Women's Political Network 1994; Democratic Party James O. Eastland Award 1995; American Bar Association Margaret Brant Women Lawyers of Achievement Award 1997; Lifetime Achievement Award, Mississippi Association of Women Lawyers 1998; Hattiesburg Women's Forum Leadership Award 1998; Lindy Boggs Women in Public Service Award 1998; The Chief Justice Award, The Mississippi Bar 1998; The Susie Blue Buchanan Award, The Mississippi Bar 2003.

This collection consists of forty-three scrapbooks of materials that document Edythe Evelyn Gandy's public service career in Mississippi State Government from 1959-1983. Included are newspaper clippings, campaign posters, cards, stationary and envelopes, sample official ballots, news releases, invitations, programs, pamphlets, thank you letters, greeting cards, award certificates, pins, car decals, and name tags. Each scrapbook has been placed in a separate box, along with a folder containing photocopies of the pages in that particular scrapbook. The collection also includes a variety of oversize materials such as newspapers, newsletters, certificates, calendar pages, sample ballots, and bumper stickers.